Contributors

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Hey pallies, our Maria's sharin' of that oh so cool pix of our Dino with the towel reminded me that when our Dino was a youngen' one of his earliest jobs was as a towel boy....so I decided to google Dean Martin towel boy with google images to see what I gots and here is where our Dino lead me.

Loves this autographed pix of our Dino with chick from one of the Matt Helm capers. Gotta wonder if it is still for sale. To checks this out on the original site, just likes clicks on the tagg of this Dinogram.

Gotta 'fess up that I gots to wonder in the 'graph is real 'cause the date on it is likes '91 and near the end of our Dino's life and why woulda our Dino be signin' an autograph from a '60s era Dinophoto in '91...but still loves this pix of our Dino. Dinoforever, DMP

Tuesday, January 6, 2009The Legendary Dean Martin!

This is a fantastic vintage signed 10x8 of the legendary Dean Martin that he has hand signed. He is one of the most famous performers in Hollywood history and this is a great autograph at a fair price!High End Retail Gallery Price $399Our Special Sale Price $49 Posted by Blake Autographs at 7:16 PM

Monday, September 28, 2009

Hey pallies, likes I am just so Dinoproud of pallies who know, love, and share their true Dinodevotion with others. Case in point is our youthful Dinoholic Maria who shared the followin' post with her blogg readers at her pad tagged Maria (clicks on tagg of this Dinogram to goes there.)

Maria shares her Dinothoughts in her evocative Dinopost "Why Dean and not Frank." Loves how she shares why Dino is truly where it is at with a girlpallie of hers. Readin' Maria's Dinothoughts shows how truly truly she has fallen for our Dino in likes the hugest of huge Dinoway.

Also loves her new header for her blogg...never ever have seen that Dinopix before and it is so so Dinowonderful...and then also the Dinopose at the end is new to this Dinoholic as well...and oh so very Dinospecial....so reads 'bout how our Maria loves our Dino so so very Dinomuch....and is helpin' to bring others to likes true Dinodevotion. Dinodevotedly, DMP

26. september 2009

Why Dean and not Frank?

'I was sitting at home yesterday, and then a friend of mine called and asked if i wanted to do something. Well after a while we found out that it would be so much better to sit at home and watch some movies, make popcorn and just relax after a hard week at school.Well, this friend of mine.. well she likes, or enjoins listening to Frank Sinatra. And after looking at my "little" collection of Dean Martin flicks and asked me this question: "Why Dean Martin?". "Why Dean Martin what?" i asked. "Well why are u so crazy about Dean? I mean, u have like 700 pictures of him on your pc, 25 gb Dean Martin on your Ipod and you try to find all of his movies? Why not Frank? I mean, your personality fits so much better with Frank, you are more Frank and not Dean!". That got me actually thinking. She is kind of right! I can get angry as h*ll, so did Frank, i hate to wait, so did he and i have blue eyes :P My love of that kind of music started with "Fly me to the moon". So what made me a Dean addict?Ohh, i can post like 30 pages where i wright why i LOVE Dean, but i will try to keep it short! First of all, although Dean and Frank have the same music style (both are crooners) Dean has something special about him (and no, i am not talking about how he looks, although.. WOW *drools all over the pc*). From the first second, you listen to every word that comes out of him, it's just not possible not to enjoy at least a little bit of his singing. Then we have his acting. He can be a drunk, a jerk etc. etc. He has THE BEST drunk act ever! He is born with comedian gene or something, his timing in Colgate Comedy Hour, or Dean Martin Show and on stage with Frank? Pure genius! And now to my fav. part :P His looks, his Italian heritage and his personality. Dean's looks= WOW WOW WOW! And i have always loved everything about Italy. When it comes to his personality, well there has never been said a bad thing about him, and u know why? He is just cool, good natured and just.. Dean Martin.So i don't really know why Dean! It's something magical i guess.

Friday, September 25, 2009

Hey pallies, here's a cool and swingin' review of our Dino as Matt Helm in "The Silencers" from a big screen screenin' at Cinecon 45 (clicks on tagg of this Dinogram to read this in it's original format.) This chick Ms Janet who has written this very favorable Dinoreview seems to have gotten really turned on to our Dino and likes how cool is that.

Oh, so recently shared 'bout the bigg screen viewin' of Kiss Me Stupid" in Austin, Texas and now this one...thinks this was in Cali, but will try to get more Dinoinfo for us pallie. All I can say is that I hopes there will be tons more of bringin' our Dino back to the bigg screen so that more and more dudes can celebrate our Dino's life, times, and amazin' messages! BTW, Ms Janet seemed to like the openin' scene of our Dino and Miss Lovey cleanin' up in the pool...so have includin' one of my fav Dinopixs from that Dinoseg... Dinodevotedly, DMP

Thursday, September 24, 2009

The Silencers (1966) Film Review - Cinecon 45 Screening

Plot Summary - Swinging 60s spy comedy. Suave secret agent Matt Helm (Dean Martin) is called away from his 60s bachelor pad by his company ICE to get on the job chasing after some sort of crime organization, the gist of what they are up to escapes me at the moment. On his travels on this job, he - well, basically hooks up with curvaceous women - first a tall bombshell, then a kooky redhead (no, not Lucy) he meets poolside - she's a curvy klutz named Gail (Stella Stevens). Then there's also that dancing stripper (Cyd Charisse) who gets shot while performing onstage. While dying, she slips something to Gail - then Matt and Gail end up on a road trip together; she denies she's a secret agent for the other side but Matt and his bureau think she is. Helm is given a couple of cool, spy weapons by his agency to help him out when he comes against the bad guys - a backwards shooting gun and jacket with hand grenade buttons. This all comes in handy in the action-packed finale.

Review - Spy films are one of my least favorite film genres, so wasn't sure how I would like this one - but it turned out to be a lot of full color, widescreen fun! The film spoofs spy films like James Bond and includes action combined with comedy, plus lots of scantily clad, gorgeous women, sixties music, and Dean Martin driving along, his thoughts brought to life via smooth Dean Martin vocals. Cyd Charisse opens the film performing a striptease to the title theme song. I loved all the devices and mod sixties gadgets that fill out his "love nest" - a round, rotating bed that at the push of a button rolls across the floor, tilts up, and sends prone Matt Helm rolling into a giant lather-filled bathtub where dwells his "secretary", Lovey Kravezit - when he asks her to hand him the soap it contains a bottle of liquor. He also has a full bar set up in his car! I think seeing this on the big screen, at Cinecon 45, really helped this seem better, made it more "larger than life" which seemed to work for this film (it also seemed like the males in the audience were really appreciating all the sexy women in this) - don't know how I would feel about this one on a TV screen. Stella Stevens appeared in person at this screening. Review - 7.5 to 8/10 stars Posted by MsJanet at 2:46 PM Labels: Cinecon 45, Dean Martin, movie reviews, Sixties films

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Hey pallies, you are remember our dear Dinofriend Miss Gayle Carline who has recently released her first book "Freezer Burn" that features a main character Benny Needles who is like totally Dino-obcessed. Well last week Miss Gayle tooks a trip to northeastern Cali to do a book siginin' at Epilog Books in Quincy. Currently she is chroniclin' her adventure at her wonderful blogg "On the edge of the chair of literature."(clicks on tagg of this Dinogram to goes there.)

Wells likes I just had to post this little Dinotale that Miss Gayle Carline relates of comparin' notes with James, a youthful 12 year old writer she meets at the book signin' at Epilog Books. Read how 'bout how our dear Miss Gayle Carline tries to 'plain our Dino to James and what James response was. So grateful for pallies likes Miss Gayle who are faithfully liftin' up the names of our Dino....and inspite of what James sez, can't help but Dinobelive that in a few James will come to know, love, and honor our Dino!

Thanks Miss Gayle Carline for sharin' this Dinotale and for helpin' to bring a huge Dinobuddhagrin to this Dinoholic's face this very Dinoday. Dinodelightedly, DMP

One story about the young boy, James: we were trying to explain Dean Martin to him, describing his singing and acting and style. James looked very thoughtful for a moment, then remarked, "So, Dean Martin is the prehistoric Elvis."

This made me feel old enough, until he added, "Of course, Elvis is the prehistoric Michael Jackson."

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Hey pallies, was so thrilled to learn of "Kiss Me Stupid" bein' screened last night in Austin, Texas last night by their film society and havin' a dude tagged Chale reportin' in how well received this Dinoflick was last night (see Dinocomments from that post).

Well, now how cool to see Jette Kernion share more 'bout this at the Cinematical blogg (clicks on tagg of this Dinogram to goes there). Am Dinothrilled to read how Jette has been encouragin' as many as possible to see this Dinoclassic. Enjoys the cool pix as well as the opennin' credits Dinoclip. How stellar to see the name of our Dino continuin' to be lifted up in so many cool places and so many cool ways. Dinodelightedly, DMP

Here in Austin, the Billy Wilder movie Kiss Me, Stupid is playing tonight as part of a series about Wilder's later films, and I suspect I am driving people crazy, trying to convince them to see it with me. I may have scared a local filmmaker at a screening of Wilder's One, Two, Three a couple of weeks ago, urging the poor man -- whom I hardly know -- to return for this film.

Kiss Me, Stupid is often considered one of Wilder's worst films, a smutfest from 1964 that helped end the Production Code in Hollywood, a black-and-white comedy that is the opposite of the sophisticated sex comedies of the early 1960s (Doris Day and that crowd). It might have been a very different movie with its original lead actor, Peter Sellers, but he was ill and had to be replaced by Ray Walston. And yet there's something about this sex comedy that's appealing to me. The cast includes not only Walston but Dean Martin, Kim Novak and Felicia Farr.

The opening credits, which you can watch via YouTube after the jump, are the only part of Kiss Me, Stupid set outside the small town of Climax, Nevada. In Las Vegas, a celebrity crooner known only in the film as Dino (Dean Martin, natch) is performing his closing-night act before driving to Hollywood. It's a glitzy Vegas nightclub, with stereotypical leggy showgirls. I sometimes wish this scene had been shot in color, like an anti-Wizard of Oz. But the comedy style sets you up perfectly for the tone of this film. It's also fun to know that not only is the song that Dino sings in the credits a Gershwin tune ("'S Wonderful") but so are all the "bad" songs throughout the movie.

Hey pallies, likes recently our pallie, Miss Maria, posted this way cool pix of our Dino from the official Sammy Davis Jr. pad (likes clicks on tagg of this Dinogram to goes there). I loves every Dinoera of our Dino's likes totally amazin' Dinolife, but I am Dinosure that every one of us that calls ourself a Dinoholic has their fav Dinoperiod of our Dino's journey.

My fav Dinoera is portrayed in this particular Dinopix...the amazin' Dinotime after our Dino cut loose from the Jeanne and his personal persona became likes totally Dinocongruent with his performance persona. Our Dino had matured, but became more cool, hip, and randy as he more then ever lived life on his own terms. Likes it seems the more life our Dino lived the more and more he felt free to be likes his total Dinoself.

Thanks to Maria for helpin' me to remind me of the cool Dinopixs to be found at Sammy's pad and... enjoy our swingin' Dino at the peak of his Dinoperfection.... Dinodevotedly DMP

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Hey pallies, from the pad Austin360.com (clicks on tagg of this Dinogram to goes there) comes the news that this very Dinonight the Austin (TX) Film Society is sponsorin' a showin' of our Dino's randiest flick ever, "Kiss Me Stupid," on the bigg screen at the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema - South Lamar.

These pallies who belong to the Austin Film Society musta be a bunch of nouveau hipsters to be showin' our Dino in his most controversial movie ever. So wishes that I was in Austin tonight to see our Dino up there on the screen makin' likes his oh so cool, hip, and totally randy Dinoself in KMS.

Ain't it great pallies to see flick societies likes this one in Austin liftin' up the name of our Dino and bringin' more to know, love, and honor our Dino through their sponsorin' of such Dino-occasions. Dinodesirin', DMP

InformationInfo: (512) 476-1320 Cost: Free for members of AFS or $6 at the door

ProfileFrom the promoter:After fleeing Hitler's Germany and doing a bit of film work in France, Billy Wilder became famous in America for directing stylish films noir (DOUBLE INDEMNITY and SUNSET BLVD.), a trail blazing study of alcoholism (THE LOST WEEKEND), tough-minded war films (FIVE GRAVES TO CAIRO and STALAG 17), an expose of an unscrupulous journalist (ACE IN THE HOLE), and a devastating courtroom drama (WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION). But Wilder, along with co-writers Charles Brackett and I.A.L. Diamond, also wrote and directed some of America's finest film comedies over a four-decade period, during which time he was steadily able to cast off the flesh-biting shackles of Hollywood's onerous Production Code (a euphemism for censorship). In Wilder's hands, finding clever ways for characters to indicate what they wanted was far funnier than a full frontal attack. (Chale Nafus)

About KISS ME, STUPIDDean Martin glides through his role as a smooth-talking, drunken, charming, womanizing club singer/movie star named Dino. On his way from Las Vegas to Hollywood, he has to take a detour which heads through Warm Springs to Paradise Valley with a final stop in Climax, Nevada, a sequence of geographical names which echo the hundreds of sexual innuendos bursting forth in this often hilarious and strangely overlooked comedy. Kim Novak plays a New Jersey hooker with a head cold and an almost forgotten dream of moving on beyond working at the Belly Button, where she has a professionally convenient trailer out back. It seems inevitable that Polly the Pistol and Dino will hook up, but that will require convoluted fumbling on the part of Orville J. Spooner, a piano teacher with fantasies of writing songs to be sung by the likes of the Rat Pack, his mechanic/gas jockey friend Barney, who can set one's teeth on edge with his rhyme-scratching lyrics, and Orville's lovely wife Zelda. Much of the comedy is driven by Orville's dreams of success countered by his maniacal jealousy. This is Boccaccio, Chaucer, French bedroom farce, and traveling salesmen jokes all rolled into one gigantic sexual concoction.

Monday, September 21, 2009

Hey pallies, likes wow pallies, likes I never ever expected to learn details 'bout our Dino's co-star Beverly Adams who played Miss Lovey Kravezit in the first three Matt Helm capers. (Note that this article sez she was only in the first two.) But, here for our Dinoedification is a cool piece of prose on the life and times of Miss Adams.

Taken from the cool blog "Leo the Listmaker's Pop Culture Palace", where our host Leo diggs makin' lists (clicks on tagg of this Dinogram to goes there) comes this post on "The Top Stars of Tomorrow of 1966. Well pallies our Lovey happens to chime in at numero 8. Enjoys learnin' a few on MIss Beverly and a wee clip from her openin' sequence with our Dino in "The Silencers" where she and our great man towel off together....

Likes pallies, you just never know what new details 'bout our Dino and his ensemble that you are goin' to find. Cheers to our new pallie Leo for sharin' this with us.

And for you viewin' pleasure, our Dino and Miss Lovey in a very steamy situation from "The Ambushers"...... Dinodiggin', DMP

The Top Stars of Tomorrow of 1966

In 1941, the same group that produced the “top box office stars” list started polling with the question, “who are the individuals most likely to achieve major stardom?”. The results were generally an interesting mix of those who would become long term stars and those whose fame only lasted for a short time. These were the choices of 1966.

8. Beverly Adams

Beverly Adams’ first credit was an episode of “The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet” in 1963. She continued to get small roles in movies and television, but made her first big splash in 1965 with her appearance in “How to Stuff a Wild Bikini” with Annette Funicello. She appeared in four films in 1966 including two films as Lovey Kravezit, Dean Martin’s secretary in the Matt Helm series. She also married famous hair stylist Vidal Sassoon in 1966 and soon retired from acting to raise her children.

Thursday, September 17, 2009

Hey pallies, wow, is September packed with important Dinodates....thanks to our pallies at Hollywood Outbreak (clicks on tagg of this Dinopost to goes there) for remindin' all us Dinoholics that it was on September 17, 1950 that our Dino and the jer took on the Colgate Comedy Hour and the world of television was never ever the same again. The masses who had seen our great man and the kid in their stellar flicks was now able to catch their amazin' brand of humor on the small screen.

So, we celebrate this important day in Dinohistory that brought more fame and more fortune to our Dino. Dinoawed, DMP

ON THIS DAY IN SHOW BIZ: MARTIN & LEWIS DEBUT ON COLGATE COMEDY HOUR17Sep2009

On this day in 1950, comedians Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis make their first appearance as hosts of a new TV variety show, The Colgate Comedy Hour.

Martin and Lewis first teamed up in 1946. Martin, born in Steubenville, Ohio, in 1917, had started a nightclub act after working as a prizefighter and a steelworker in the 1940s. Lewis, the son of performers, debuted in comedy acts with his parents at age five and was working steadily as a comic by 1946, when he met Martin. The pair performed an act in which screwball Lewis constantly interrupted straight man Martin’s singing. They made their first appearance at a club in Atlantic City and were an instant hit, soon in demand for radio and movie performances. They made their first movie together, My Friend Irma, in 1949. The following year, they were chosen, along with Eddie Cantor and Fred Allen, to share the host position for The Colgate Comedy Hour. The show ran until 1955, a year before Martin and Lewis split up.

After the duo parted ways, Martin launched his own TV variety show, which ran from 1965 to 1974. In the late 1950s and early 1960s, Martin teamed up with Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis, Jr., Peter Lawford, and Joey Bishop to perform in Las Vegas. The group quickly became known as the Rat Pack, a suave group of young, fast-living entertainers. The group made several movies together in the early 1960s, including Ocean’s Eleven (1960), Sergeants Three (1962), and Robin and the Seven Hoods. Dean Martin died in 1995.

Jerry Lewis went on to sign one of the most lucrative film contracts of the day, a $10 million deal for 14 films with Paramount. Lewis’ films, including Cinderfella (1960) and The Nutty Professor (1963), failed to attract much praise from American critics but made him a star in France, where he has long been considered a comic genius. After a long absence from film, he gave an acclaimed performance in the 1986 film The King of Comedy, co-starring Robert De Niro.

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Hey pallies, likes what an important day in Dinohistory is September 16, 1965....the day that the our Dino's stellar Dean Martin Variety Show debuted on the peacock network.... For nine glorious seasons our Dino layed some happiness on all us Dinoholics as he cracked the jokes and crooned the tunes each Dinoweek.

Was lookin' for a Dinoclip from that first Dinoshow, but no could find...but here is a great clip of our great man slidin' down the poll...makin' with jokes and then singin' a wild and wonderful version of "Lay Some Happiness On Me." This Dinoclip shows our Dino in his bestest form in the greatest show to ever air on the small tube.

Think how poorer our ol' world woulda be if our Dino have never done the Dinoshow...millions counted on our Dino layin' some happiness on 'em as they tuned in to see just what our Dino woulda do next.

Wanna thanks the pallies who put together the Dean Martin Timeline (clicks on tagg of this Dinogram to goes there) for helpin' me remember this oh-so-Dinoimportant Dinodate.

On this special day in Dinohistory I encourage all true Dinoholics to pause and honor our Dino by watchin' a few Dinoclips on youtube or your fav vid location.Dinohonorin', DMP btw, as a little Dinobonus have included couple of pixs of our Dino with all those Dinolovin' chicks that were always surroundin' him....

September 16, 1965 "The Dean Martin Show" premiered on NBC, Thursday nights at 10 p.m. It was one of the highest-rated shows of the 1965-66 season and runs for nine seasons.

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Hey pallies, some cool Dinohistory shared here....from the Las Vegas Live Journal pad (clicks on tagg of this Dinopost to go there) comes some cool Dinotales from the life and times of Mr. Vic Vickrey. As you will read below, Mr. Vickrey "died last week at age 83 after an amazing life as a casino executive and host."

Knows you will enjoys this column by John L. Smith so much as he shares how Vic gots our Dino to play a high-roller host at a pad tagged Dino's Den at the Riviera and how one night at the Den our Dino made the frankie speechless.

This is such a stellar Dinofind of Dinofacts...just makes me loves our Dino even more and more....so loves readin' how our King of Cool puts the frankie in his place...and in the coolest Dinoway Dinopossible...truly only Dino matters. Dinodevotedly, DMP

JOHN L. SMITH: Vic Vickrey's sense of humor served him well in Vegas for 60 years

Vic Vickrey appreciated his place offstage in the Las Vegas casino pantheon, and he respected the entertainment legends he mixed with for six decades.

But between you and me, the night Vic helped shut up Frank Sinatra was one of his favorite stories.

Vickrey, the gambling racket's genuine Vegas Vic, died last week at age 83 after an amazing life as a casino executive and host. It would be much easier and consume far less newsprint to list the names of the casinos with which Vickrey wasn't associated during his phenomenal career.

Born in Mississippi, he spent his youth hustling in Texas roadhouse gambling halls.

"There were so many joints, I thought it was all legal," he once told me. "The sheriff came in and shot craps and played 21. He was the worst player I've ever seen, but of course I never told him that."

Once Vic was reminded of his employment's precarious legal position, in the early 1950s he joined the migration of the nation's card-and-dice mechanics on the road to Las Vegas. He walked into the Sahara and talked his way into a dice pit run by casino boss Sam Boyd.

"I said, 'I can deal these games as good if not better than any of these guys out there dealing now,'" Vickrey recalled. "He put me on a craps game, and I was wheeling and dealing and really knocking 'em dead. He came up to me later and said, 'Well, I'll say one thing. You sure are fast. You just broke every rule of procedure we've ever had.'

"I said, 'We didn't have any rules back in Texas.'"

Vic kept the job, learned the rules and continued on a remarkable gambling odyssey.

His days of hustling dice in roadhouses were over, but that country boy's grin and boundless charm served him well all his days.

How nice a guy was Vic? He's the only man I've ever met who said nice things about casino owner Ed Torres, who had a nasty reputation and was as humorless as a hit man.

Vic, on the other hand, never went anywhere without his sense of humor. While at the Aladdin in the Torres-Wayne Newton era, Vic decided to have a little fun. He ordered the resort's marquee to read, "Starring Wayne Newton in the Bagdad Theater and Vic Vickrey in the Casino."

Mr. Torres was not amused.

But Vic's gregarious nature helped persuade Dean Martin to play the gracious high-roller host at the Riviera back when Torres was the owner of record and the entertainer had a small percentage of the place. In an effort to use Martin's mystique to attract and keep big spenders, Torres installed a small bar next to the Riviera showroom called "Dino's Den."

Martin dropped in for drinks and took time out to pose for photographs with high rollers personally delivered by Vickrey. Martin was gracious, the players were thrilled, and Vegas Vic made it all look spontaneous, right down to the casino camera girl who just happened to be nearby.

By the time the brief photo encounter was over, Vic had won a player for life, and the high roller had a million-dollar story to take home.

Unfortunately, someone forgot to inform Sinatra, who dropped by the bar one night to party with Martin in his out-of-the-way watering hole. The Rat Pack kings shared cocktails and laughs in the intimate setting.

Suddenly, on cue at a prearranged time, Vic brought in the high roller, who approached Martin as instructed with the casino camera girl in hot pursuit.

When the camera flashed, Sinatra exploded.

"Why don't you ask somebody before you take their picture?" Sinatra snarled. "What the hell's the matter with you? What right do you have to take my picture without asking somebody."

The photographer cringed.

Vegas Vic did his best not to smile.

Martin stepped in as cool as you might imagine.

"Calm down, Frank," he said. "She wasn't taking your picture. She was taking one of my new friend and I. You weren't even supposed to be in it. Besides, my friend probably doesn't even know who you are."

With that, Francis Albert Sinatra, the Chairman of the Board, the man who always had something to say about everything, was speechless.

And Vegas Vic Vickrey, consummate casino host, was happy to play his part.

John L. Smith's column appears Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. E-mail him at Smith@reviewjournal.com or call (702) 383-0295. He also blogs at lvrj.com/blogs/smith.

Hey pallies, likes wow! Remember those Rat Pack mysteries written by that dude Robert Randisi....well here is news of numero 4 now out...tagged "You're Nobody 'Til Somebody Kills You! Thanks to our pallie Bish at blog Bish's Beat, we learns of Randisi's latest Dinocaper. To view this in it's original form, just clicks on the tagg of this Dinogram... Ain't it the coolest to be findin' more and more authors who are turnin' to our Dino for the center of their writin' assignments. This makes likes the third Dino-centered tome in likes the last couple of Dinomonth. Well, I'm gonna have to get my hands on this Dinoepic as well. Dinosharin', DMP

Monday, September 14, 2009YOU'RE NOBODY 'TIL SOMEBODY KILLS YOU!

YOU'RE NOBODY 'TIL SOMEBODY KILLS YOU!

THE LATEST RAT PACK MYSTERY FROM ROBERT RANDISI!

JUST RECEIVED MY COPY TODAY! ALL THE LOUNGERATTI SHOULD HAVE THIS AT THE TOP OF THEIR READING LIST!

EDDIE G.'S SERVICES HAVE BEEN ENLISTED AGAIN, THIS TIME TO HELP MARILYN MONROE, WHO THINKS SHE'S BEING FOLLOWED.

Randisi's entertaining fourth Rat Pack mystery (after 2008's Hey There, You with the Gun in Your Hand) once again displays Vegas pit boss Eddie Gianelli's skill at discreetly getting his eminent friends out of embarrassing jams. In early 1962, Dean Martin asks Eddie to help a fragile Marilyn Monroe, who's worried she's being followed and is feeling guilty she contributed to the death of her ailing co-star, Clark Gable, from The Misfits by making him wait too long on the set.

The Rat Pack, which also includes Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jr., plays second fiddle as Gianelli tries to protect Monroe from myriad problems real and imaginary. The Brooklyn-born Gianelli, a humble straight shooter who can call on friends in high and low places, needs both when one friend helping him disappears and another ends up in the hospital. Randisi clothes a factual skeleton of information about his famous characters with an artful tapestry of vivid imagination.

Monday, September 14, 2009

Hey pallies, are we in for a Dinotreat or are we in for a Dinotreat! Miss Janice Hanna Thompson, writer of the romantic fiction "Fools Rush In" has favored all us Dinoholics by writin' an exclusive piece of Dinoprose where in she shares all the Dinodetails 'bout new Dinonovel.

Image ever single chapter title of her new Dinotome features a tagg from a Dinotune. Never ever thought that our Dino woulda be featured in a tome of Christian Romance, but how stellar is this. This is sure to bring a whole new group of pallies to know, love, and honor our Dino!!!!

To goes to Miss Janice Hanna Thompson's web site, likes just clicks on the tagg of this here Dinogram. I have already got my copy on order from my local book joint (always encourage pallies to buy locally if possible) and oughta have it in my hot little hands by sometime on the Dinomorrow!

Miss Janice, included the followin' Dinocomment with this Dinoarticle...... "Thanks so much for posting this! I'm tickled that we have Dino in common." Well pallie, thanks so much to you for writin' this Dinoexclusive for ilovedinomartin and yeah, we're like so Dinopumped to have our Dino in common with you as well. Thanks so much for liftin' of the name of our Dino in "Fools Rush In." Dino-only, DMP

Mambo Italiano!

Hi Dino fans! Janice Thompson here, author of Fools Rush in, a Dinolicious new romantic comedy that features the croonings of your favorite hunk-o-man, Dean Martin. I’ve been a fan for as long as I can remember. There’s something about Dino’s voice that sends shivers down the spine. . .in a good way. A couple of weeks ago I watched the infomercial about Dean Martin’s show and laughed until I cried. I still love those old episodes and all of his crazy antics! Talk about a natural comedian.

Ironically, I didn’t set out to write a book based on Dean Martin’s song titles. In fact, I didn’t set out to write this book at all. It happened accidentally! One night while crawling into bed, one line came to me: “If Uncle Lazarro hadn’t left the mob, I probably wouldn’t have a story to tell.” I didn’t know who Uncle Lazarro was. . .or why he was bothering me when I wanted to sleep! From that one line, this wacky story (Fools Rush In) evolved. Before long the whole book was written with a fun-loving Italian flair!

So. . .who is Uncle Lazarro? He’s a pizza-making Italian from New Jersey, recently transplanted to Galveston Island, Texas. His pizza restaurant (Parma Johns) features ONLY the croonings of Dean Martin. He plays no other music at the restaurant. And all of his pizza specials are named after a Dean Martin song. There’s the Mambo Italiano special (spicy sausage pizza), the Pennies from Heaven special (meatball pizza), the Simpatico Special (half pepperoni/half Canadian bacon pizza), the South of the Border Special (taco-style pizza) and the Volare Special (lowfat cheese pizza). In the end, one of the characters in the story names a new pizza the Bamboozled Special (BBQ pizza.)

Each chapter in the book is a Dino song title (including all of the songs named above). Here are some of my other favorite chapter titles: Everybody Loves Somebody Sometime. Who’s Sorry Now? Walk on By. Return to Me. Please Don’t Talk About Me When I’m Gone. Walking my Baby Back Home. You’re Nobody Till Somebody Loves You. Memories are Made of This. Make the World Go Away. Turn the World Around. In the Chapel in the Moonlight. Baby, it’s Cold Outside. That’s Amore.

To get myself psyched up to write, I purchased several Dino songs from itunes, bought a Dino CD and visited the Dino youtube videos. I must’ve played Mambo Italiano a hundred times during the weeks I was writing (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6S-7Ap6J_FU). Talk about inspiring.

I should add that Uncle Lazarro’s arch-enemy in the book is a woman named Rosa who only listens to Frank Sinatra. They have an ongoing feud about who is the better singer. You can imagine how much fun that is! (And by the way, the second book features Sinatra tunes as chapter titles.)

I’ll save the rest of my Dino experiences for your interview. In the meantime, thanks for telling your readers about my book! Hope everyone laughs as much as I did while writing it!

Saturday, September 12, 2009

Hey pallies, likes diggs this....'nother new novel features our Dino croonin' the soundtrack. From the blogg Joyful Reviews 'N Recipes (clicks on tagg of this Dinogram to goes there) comes this report of "Fools Rush In" by Miss Janice Thompson.

Seems that Miss Thompson has chosen to use the tunes of our Dino to set the tone for here Christian fiction romance...ain't it cool to see our Dino bein' featured in so many ways by so many Dinodevoted fans. Will be seekin' out more info on this newest Dinotome to share with all you pallies, but for now checks out the Dinodetails below.

Loves how the blogg writer sez, "But Ms. Thompson really caught one of my weaknesses this time, she knows her Dean Martin. Oh yes indeed, she does! And one of my secret weaknesses is Dean Martin's singing."

Friday, September 11, 2009Blog Book Tour--Fools Rush In by Janice Thompson

Janice Thompson certainly likes her weddings! Yes indeed, she does. The first Thompson wedding tale I read was back in 2007, Gone With the Groom, a wedding mystery with a missing groom. Her suspense filled Christian fiction was full of adventure and mayhem.

But Ms. Thompson really caught one of my weaknesses this time, she knows her Dean Martin. Oh yes indeed, she does! And one of my secret weaknesses is Dean Martin's singing. Dino croons the soundtrack of her latest novel, Fools Rush In: Weddings by Bella. Well...I suppose Ol' Blue Eyes sings a supporting backup, but it's Dean who leads the show.

Really, the story is about the very Itallian Bella Rossi and her search for the perfect country and western deejay. Because, you know, Italians and Texas have a lot in common...ummm, do they? Really? Well, maybe more than you'd think.

Bella has inherited the family business...ahem...the family wedding business, that is, and she intends on making it successful. Can a wedding planner who's never had her own wedding make it big designing others' happily ever after dreams? What about Bella's dreams? Will there ever be a wedding bell in her future? What happens when Bella's East-coast family meets the downhome Texas family of D.J, who may or may not be the deejay she's looking for.

Janice Thompson's quirky characters create madcap situations and manage to rely on the LORD at the same time. They are unapologetically Christian and are always ready to share what the LORD has done for them.

My only complaint with the book? Well, Ms. Thompson didn't work in my all time favorite Dean Martin song--Georgia Sunshine. I suppose given the book is about TEXAS and all I can understand. Book One of the Weddings by Bella series was so fun, I'll be on the lookout for Book Two, Swinging on a Star.

My thanks to Ms. Thompson and Revell Books/Baker Publishing for the great time I had with this fun, fast-paced read. Fools Rush In was just released and is available at your favorite bookseller, from Revell Books, a division of Baker Publishing group.

Hey pallies, likes sometimes when I have a few, I love to google ilovedinomartin to see what others may be sayin' 'bout this humble little Dinoblog. Well, recently found that the Dinoreview of "Freezer Burn" by Miss Gayle Carline that I did here at ilovedinomartin has been quoted at Echelon Press as part of their promotion of Miss Gayle's stellar Dinobook.

If you clicks on the tagg of this Dinogram you will be taken to the Echelon Press site where you can read my Dinoblurb in all it's Dinoglory. I was just pleased as Dinopunch to see the press usin' my praise of Miss Gayle Carline's book....which is truly deservin' of such praise...and drawin' others to the ilovedinomartin Dinoblog and to gettin' to know, love, and honor our Dino.

"Freezer Burn is a must read for all Dinoholicly inclined diggers of murder and mayhem. So, y'all do yourselves a fav and treat yourself to a read of Miss Gayle Carline's stellar murder mystery." –Ilovedinomartin Blog

Hey pallies, likes from the Lancaster and Morecambe Citizen blogg comes this Q&A from Dinoemulater Mark Adams, who has been "dubbed the Dean Martin of the 21st century." Recently posted 'bout Mr. Adam's Dinotrib...but loves readin' how truly devoted to our Dino this Mark pallie is.

Mark proclaims....“I love everything that Dean Martin was."...and boasts 'bout how "these days he is his number one fan." This is one Dinodude who is lovin' becomin' like our Dino and certainly not for the bread. Hopes all you pallies will take the time to learn 'more 'bout Mr. Mark Adams and his extreme Dinodevotion!

To read this in it's original format, just clicks on the tagg of this Dinogram. How I wish I could go 'cross the see to see Mr. Adams portray our Dino!!!! Dinowishin', DMP

AFTER four years in the West End, That’s Amore, celebrating the career of famous Rat Packer Dean Martin, is touring the UK. We spoke to Mark Adams, dubbed the Dean Martin of the 21st century.

FOR a couple of hours on stage every night Mark Adams gets to play at being one of the most charismatic singers in history.

And Mark's performance is so much more than an impersonation of Dean Martin; he presents a faithful depiction of the charismatic showman, from his trademark glass of Jack Daniels, through to his suave way with the ladies.

The sheer excitement of seeing this legendary performer is recreated in this fully staged show which aims to melt women’s hearts just as it did first time around.

“Dean Martin is my alter ego. I feel bulletproof when I’m being him. I get such a buzz when I’m on that stage,” says Mark of That’s Amore — based on Dean’s successful variety TV show that ran for more than 10 years.

“I don’t know if I’d have got such a buzz if I’d have tried to have a career just being me.”

He went on: “I’m only doing what he did and hiding behind a character when I’m on stage. He created this role, that was charming and boyish and funny all in one. He was only that person on stage and so am I.”

So has Dean’s way with the ladies rubbed off on Mark?

“I don’t know what to say. Only the ones from Lancashire,” said the smooth talker with a smile in his voice.

Mark Adams, who has been described as the definitive Dean Martin, is accompanied by the gorgeous Golddiggers, recreating the sounds of a time when men wore smoking jackets and opened doors for the girls.

Mark, revealed he’d never really heard of Dean Martin before he was asked to play him yet these days he is his number one fan.

“I love everything that Dean Martin was. His variety show brought something to television in America that we haven’t ever really had here. Variety but with huge name star guests. We got close with Morcambe and Wise, but there is nothing like that now,” he said.

Mark originally trained as a PE and drama teacher and played semi professional football as well as coaching before becoming an actor, since which time he has worked extensively in television, theatre and film.

He has just completed a new BBC drama called The Things I Should Have Told You and trained as an FA football coach but by his own admission he is happiest in his work when he is being Dean.

Mark said: “I enjoyed being a teacher but I was never going to be an award winner. It wasn’t where my heart was. Doing That’s Amore makes me so happy.”

Mark starred as Dean Martin in the Olivier nominated show, The Rat Pack — Live From Las Vegas which led to him travelling the world as Dean in a variety of shows including in a version of That’s Amore at the StarLight Roof of the Waldorf Astoria, New York, a career highlight.

The innovative production, coming to Manchester’s Palace Theatre on Thursday features some very special guests including portrayals of Nat King Cole, Shirley Maclaine, Peggy Lee and Petula Clark all complemented by a large on stage orchestra.

Wednesday, September 09, 2009

Hey pallies, loves how much Regis Philbin loves our Dino. Here is a cool article 'bout the Rege's show that begins with his Dinodevotion. Written by interviewer Raakhee Mirchandani for the New York Post blogg (clicks on tagg of this Dinogram to go there), Mr. Philbin's true Dinodevotion comes shinin' through.

Have added a great clip that I have shared before of Regis and Kelly puttin' of the cardboard rendition of our great man. Enjoys pallies... Dinolovin', DMP

2 in the morningBackstage at 'Regis and Kelly'By Raakhee Mirchandani

Last Updated: 10:59 AM, September 6, 2009

Posted: 2:30 AM, September 6, 2009

Dean Martin is singing in Regis Philbin’s office. The sound of Martin’s soft voice evokes a time when men wore smoking jackets and girls were named Kitty and Betty. And Regis Philbin was a senior at Cardinal Hayes High School in the Bronx.

“Dean Martin. Jerry Lewis. Remember them?,“ asks Philbin, punctuating Martin’s velvety croon with his rambunctious excitement. Before he gets to work, though, someone pushes PLAY on the CD player, which is always, always loaded with Dean. “Those were the days, Raakhee. Copacabana, many years ago for my prom, there was Dean and Jerry. When show business was a lot of fun.

At ABC’s studios on Columbus Avenue where “Live! With Regis and Kelly!” is taped and is celebrating its 22nd anniversary, show business still seems like a lot of fun.

Philbin, 79, flips through the paper (a life-size cardboard cut-out of Martin watches from behind his desk) while eating half a buttered bagel. He cackles about Michael Gelman, his executive producer, and talks clothes with his in-house wardrobe man, Goldie. One possible reason Philbin seems so at ease is that his commute is a breeze — a three-minute stroll from his building to the studio garage, where an army of tourists with cameras have been waiting since before 7 a.m. for a glimpse of him.

Philbin is singing the Burt Bacharach song – a hit for Herb Alpert in 1968 — that he has recorded with his wife, Joy.

“Any guy ever sang that to ya, Raakhee?“ he asks.

No. And not like that. Not ever.

When I’m not here, he spends his days serenading Kelly Ripa, his bubbly, on-air co-host of eight years. In real-life they come across as more father-daughter (or niece and favorite uncle) than colleagues. Their on-screen chemistry is real. And they keep things fresh by ignoring each other. Until show time at least.

Pre-show, Philbin and Ripa don’t converse, except for a brief hello when they cross paths in hair and make-up. That’s how he says their chats stay spontaneous. And hysterical.

But Philbin spends the whole day before he does a show collecting items he plans to share with her. He usually runs through the day’s events before going to bed, jotting down the key moments on a notepad.

Anything is fair game. Recently Gelman and Philbin went to lunch with some friends and Gelman ordered East End fluke. But on the following day’s show the fluke turned in to an epic story including photos, Philbin’s dramatic rendition of Gelman’s ordering style and a subsequent on-air conversation a few shows later.

“Regis loves to complain. That’s his shtick,“ says Gelman, 48, who has worked with Philbin almost every day for 24 years. “Trust me when I was at the restaurant, I looked at the menu and said, “I’ll have the East End fluke“ and to Regis it’s a story that’s really funny.“ Of Philbin’s hysterically affected impersonation of him, Gelman says, “All of a sudden I’m like some guy from Connecticut, with lockjaw or Niles from Frasier.

“I’m a foodie. I love my wine. I’m not watching sports on Sunday,“ he says. “Regis is a man’s man. I’m more of a metrosexual. I produce a show for women!“

But that’s the Philbin charm — his incredible victimization by Gelman, computers, the internet, Twitter and of course, Kelly Ripa.

“He’s the best storyteller on the planet. I mean the best. And the fact is that he exaggerates everything,“ she says giggling, taking a break from her iPhone and her new Twitter obsession. Ripa tweets constantly, from the car, from the beach, even during fittings for Electrolux commercials. “No matter what the story, you are the villain and he is the victim.

To be on-air ready by 9 a.m., Ripa, 39, leaves SoHo, where she lives with handsome hubby Mark Consuelos and their three kids Michael, Lola and Joaquin, in a car with her driver, Leo, at 7:30 a.m. On the drive to the Upper West Side, she listens to Howard Stern. Her tiny rear parked in a makeup chair shortly after 8 a.m., she settles in for 45 minutes and producers pop by to brief her on the day’s guests, news and anecdotes she night need for the show.

“I’m usually reading the newspaper. Although now that I’ve started tweeting, I’m tweeting constantly. It’s my sister-on-law’s birthday and I have a lot of people who are staying with us and I’m trying to think about how I will have time to tweet. It’s twitter anxiety. How will I tweet my peeps?

At around 8:50 Gelman warms up the audience of over 100 people, coaching them on how to laugh and how to applaud. “Fast claps are louder than slower ones,“ he says. In 10 minutes it’s go-time and with a flury of hair, makeup and wardrobe the show begins.

The two take the stage, hand-in-hand, with Kelly tweeting just before she runs through the door. They discuss the night’s activities, Regis’ sleep issues (he famously did an overnight sleep study last season) and how he spent the previous evening ringing the closing bell at the NYSE. In between guests Rachel McAdams and Jon Hamm and during commercial breaks the duo step down and chat and pose with the audience.

“Do you remember me Regis? I met you at the airport a few years ago and you helped with my bag,“ says a woman visiting New York for the week.

Philbin smiles, nods and waves. Of course he doesn’t — he barely remembers what happened this morning — but she’ll never know.

Tuesday, September 08, 2009

Hey pallies, on a much happier Dinonote, I gotta report to you that when I went out Dinoshoppin' this past weekend I found this amazin' 4 cd Dinoset of "Young Dino." Put out by a UK label tagged Proper, the boxed set includes 111 Dinotunes from our Dino's earliest recordin' sessions...that is likes at least 20% of every Dinosong that our Dino ever recorded.

And, not only are there a huge selection of Dinomelodies that I have never ever heard before, the great set includes a 56 page illustrated booklet 'bout our Dino and his early life. The booklet includes some marvelous pixs of the young Dino, info on each of the songs, as well as several pages of Dinobiography...where I have learned many Dinodetails that I don't remember readin' before.

The set that I found at a used bookstore was brand spankin' new still in the wrapper...all for just a few pennies more then 15 dollars includin' tax. Just knows that how much Dinopleasure that I am gonna receive from listenin' to our Dino in his younger days. I would strongly urge to be on the lookout for this bargain of a Dinocomplilation. Of course, my Dinoheart still desires to gets the 4 Dinoboxsets from the Bear Family...but still gotta gets the bread for those deluxe Dinosets.Dinodelightedly, DMP

Hey pallies, likes I still can't believe it. I try to often go to the Amazon site to see what new Dinotreasures await 'cause there are still a number of Dinoflicks that have yet to be released in DVD format. Wells pallies, I was makin' my Dinorounds at Amazon when I came 'cross this notice: "This item has been discontinued by the manufacturer."

The Dinotreasure that has been "discontinued by the manufacturer" is none other then the amazin' "That's Amore" DVD of stellar Dinoclips taken from the Dinoshow. How can this be....to me the most important piece of Dinotreasure available has been discontinued....HOW CAN THIS BE? I never ever in a second thought that this amazin' treasure trove of Dinomemories from the Dinoshow woulda be likes out of print.

Yes, I do have my own Dinocopy that is still in pristine Dinoshape...but likes if I had known this was gonna happen I woulda likes boughts up several copies more for the Dinofuture. This was the first and formost recommend that I made to new Dinoholics for their Dinopurchase...ands now likes it is gone. Yeah, it may gets a new release, these thin's sometimes do happen, but we can't be sure.

It looks like even our Dino is takin'a hit to the sad ecomonic times 'round us...sales of the DVD musta slowed 'nough for the manufacturer to takes it out of circulation....truly so so Dinosad.

So, pallies, if you haves your copy to be sure to guard it with all your Dinomight...and if you don't start lookin' now 'cause there have to be a few Dinocopies on the net for Dinopurchase. To verify this Dinonews for yourself, likes just clicks on the tagg of this Dinogram.

Besides the cool cover of this Dinodvd I am sharin' one of my most fav Dinoclips from this Dinotreasure...our Dino singin' his perfect rendition of "Young At Heart."Dinosaddened, DMP

Monday, September 07, 2009

Hey pallies, well it's Labor Day 'gain and time to repost the Dinovids of our Dino and the kid makin' up at the 1976 MDA telethon. The first one is of much finer viewin' quality then the 2nd and 3rd...but two and three offer more footage of the reunion. Notes how lovin' our Dino is pallies....the most lovin' dude ever.....and how psyched the jer is to see his old mate.... Dinodelightedly, DMP

Saturday, September 05, 2009

Hey pallies, from the blogg tagged "Archive of American Television" comes an interview with the jer 'bout his long time association with the MDA telethon. If you clicks on the tagg of this Dinogram you can read the whole interview includin' how our Dino did some way early telethons with the jer.

What I have chosen to share with you is the portion of the interview where the jer tells 'bout that amazin' moment in Dinohistory at the 1976 telethon where the frankie brought our Dino and the kid back together. Enjoys readin' the jer's remembrance of that "incredible moment."

Does plan to post the Dinoclip of that Dinoevent on Labor Day as we remember and celebrate the day in Dinohistory when our Dino and the kid gots back together. Dinodevotedly, DMP btw, pallies, likes in addition on the original post there is a link to be able to view the whole interview that the jer gave.

On his 1976 reunion with Dean Martin on the telethon:The other great moment that’s pretty close emotionally was when Frank [Sinatra] decided to bring Dean on and have us embrace, and stop the twenty years of silence, because it was twenty years we hadn’t talked. And Frank worked it out. He worked it out so that everyone in that studio, every member of my staff— nobody knew Dean was coming on. The only one that knew it was Ed McMahon. So I could never have heard about it. It was such a total surprise. And when you look at the footage and you see the look on my face and the look on his face you see two men that love one another. It was an incredible moment. It was great television.

Friday, September 04, 2009

Hey pallies, likes here is the last of the Matt Helm fun from our pallie Republibot 3.0. Alls I'm gonna say 'bout this is be sure to read this 'til the very end. Man, is R 3.0 Dinocreative or what....?!?!?!??! Dinosharin', DMP btw, to read this in it's original format, just clicks on the tagg of this Dinopost...

TV MOVIE REVIEW: “The Ravagers” (1970)

September 4, 2009 by Republibot 3.0

The story that led to this TV Movie is long, twisted, and rambling, and at the end there’s precious little payoff to make it all worthwhile, but perhaps there’s a lesson in that. It was originally conceived of as two separate projects back around 1967, when the Dean Martin Matt Helm franchise was going strong and the unexpectedly-well-received Frank Sinatra Tony Rome movies were just getting off the ground. In a nutshell, the great minds behind these pictures thought “Hey, let’s do a crossover picture where Helm meets Rome! Putting these two geriatric rat-packers in the same film is money in the bank, and it’ll help both franchises! Yeah!”

Of course this is the kind of thing that the suits always think is a great marketing idea, mainly because I’m convinced the suits never watch or read the stuff their companies put out. In fact, crossing over Helm and Rome is a bad idea. A very bad idea indeed, for the same reason that crossovers between the 1980s Justice League Europe and Justice League America was a bad idea: One is hokey jokey parody, and the other is serious as a grave. Indeed, Martin’s boobtacular T&A jokefests, with occasional spying, were never meant to be taken seriously, and it’s hard to think of something that could be more antithetical to Sinatra’s undeniably cool neo-noir detective flicks (though it should be mentioned that they’re rather boobtacular, too). Probably because these two properties were like oil and water, no one ever got around to doing a script for them, though several treatments exist, including - most intriguingly - “The Shadowers,” in which Helm and Rome are actually working against each other as adversaries, each perceiving the other to be the enemy. Nothing ever came of it, though the Suits kept yammering on about it.

Meanwhile, in 1969, the fourth and final Helm came out, part of a three-picture deal to produce more movies at a vastly reduced budget - the ultimately pointless and not-very-funny Wrecking Crew, which I reviewed last week. The movie bombed, and though the second Tony Rome film was positively reviewed, the audience wasn’t really there for it. Work on “The Ravagers” was already underway, but it became increasingly obvious that the project was going to be ankled. Likewise, the never-named third Rome movie languished for want of a director, a script, and it looked like the actor didn’t want to do it, either.

That seemed to be that until Bob Hope broke his big toe getting out of a golf course in January, and couldn’t really work or stand until it healed. As a result, his NBC Bob Hope Variety Special for spring couldn’t be made, which put a big hole in the network’s schedule. It’s easy to forget what a big deal these Hope specials were nowadays, but at the time they brought in enough revenue to float the entire network (Languishing in third place, ratings wise) for a month. Bob’s inability to perform was a huge problem, and so he asked Dean Martin (His frequent guest, personal friend, and the guy he happened to be golfing with when he broke his toe) to please step in and pinch hit for him.

Dino agreed, of course, but what could they do? Neither he, the network, nor Bob felt it would be right for him to simply replace Hope on his own special, and Helm was still rather famous, and they had that script laying around, so why not? Problematically, however, most of the stars for the variety show had already been booked, and a script had been written for that - fortunately a comedy murder-mystery script - so the only real consideration was that all the stars who’d signed on for the special had to be used in some capacity. Fortunately, Hopes specials were also rather hokey-jokey and boobtacular, so fitting the Helm script and the Hope script together seemed to be a match made in heaven.

The scripts were merged more-or-less by putting them up to a wall and hammering nails through ‘em. Sinatra had been intended to appear in the special, so he was given most of Bob’s ‘detective’ parts, and as the project continued, the script kept changing to make the character more “Rome-like,” ultimately resulting in them just saying “What the hell, let’s make this the Tony Rome-meets-Matt Helm movie” after all. (Because if you talk about something long enough in Hollywood, it eventually happens, even if it’s a very, very bad idea.) The result was a TV movie the network hyped the hell out of for a month prior to airing, and then spent the next forty years denying ever happened. In fact, most people don’t even realize there *Was* a fifth Helm movie, nor that it was a crossover with the Sinatra franchise.PLAY BY PLAY

We start out with some stock footage of a nuclear submarine at sea, cruising along under the surface. Inside we see what is obviously the Control Room set from Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea with a few large “BIG-O” Logos plastered around. The Captain of the sub (Bob Crane, speaking with an outrageously bad Russian accent) gets a message on the video phone from the head of the terrorist organization, telling him to test out their new weapon, then meet him at Location X. The leader’s identity is deliberately obscured and his voice distorted, but he’s a skinny guy, that we can tell. Then we get some stock footage of the Bikini Atoll tests, and Crane smiles and says “I think that should convince the president that this was no idle threat!”

Cut to the opening sequence, which is basically go-go dancers dancing around a stage set on risers with weird lighting, intercut with scenes of Helm walking through them looking smug and lustful while scenes from the previous movies are rear-projected on the wall behind them. (These are the dancers from Laugh In, by the way, which was an NBC show) Then Frank Sinatra walks in with a drink in each hand, and gives one to Dean, and the titles say “Matt Helm meets Tony Rome in…The Ravagers.“ We get about another minute of this, while they stand around ogling the girls and a crappy Boyce And Hart song plays in the background. I can’t find it online, but here’s what I could make out and remember of the insipid lyrics:

“The Ravagers/ooooh oooh oooh/The Ravagers/yeah yeah yeah/time and tide wait for no man/because they are The Ravagers//The Ravagers/ooooh oooh oooh/The Ravagers/yeah yeah yeah/I’ll make up my mind line no one else can/and wait for The Ravagers”

Once the ‘movie’ actually starts, we find Helm back at his home out west somewhere (Same set as the first two movies, I *knew* it was actually someone’s house!) daydreaming about making out with models yet again. As seems standard for these scenes, he makes out with three of ‘em while singing parody versions of his own songs (“Everybody love somebody sometime/and if you’re lucky/two or three times”) and then his personal assistant wakes him up. It’s not Lovey Kravzit like in the first three movies, she’s still conspicuously absent, but curiously it’s Janice Rule, reprising her role as Sheila Sommers from the third movie. He won’t wake up, so she kisses him until he does, then tells him that Mac is on the phone.

Mac is once again played by James Gregory (Good to have him back), and he informs Helm that there’s been a Big-O super weapon tested out at sea off the coast of Florida, and Helm is needed in action ASAP. “Have your assistant Miss Sommers pick up plane tickets.” Helm downs a martini, and makes a lame “Only way to fly” joke, and one cut later he’s walking along the beach while Diahann Carroll in a bikini sings an entirely-too-appropriate rendition of “Too much fun in the sun” (Dino’s looking haggard in this, but Diahann was staring in a short-lived sitcom called “Julia” at the time.) Sheila goes to get a hotel room, and then suddenly, jarringly, we switch from film to video, on an obvious casino set, shot before a live audience. Helm walks in, and there’s a lot of applause, and Mac walks over. They do a walk-and-talk while a big banner says “Welcome NBC Stars,” and we’re told that there’s a reason to believe (Never explained) that the head of BIG-O is here, but that they’ll have to lay low since there’s a TV Star Convention in town. (Whaaaaat?) Sinatra comes in, and introduces himself as Tony Rome, Private Detective, and says he’s helping run security for this shindig. They trade ratpack banter for a bit, and then Lucile Ball screams. Helm, Mac, Rome, Sheila, and Lucy run across the set just in time to see an actor - Link from The Mod Squad - stumble in with a very theatrical knife in his back and fall down dead. “The thin man in the chair…” he gasps.

“He’s dead, Mister Helm!” Sheila says“Oh, honey,” says Lucy, “I’ve been deader than him for years, and I still get to do these specials.” I have no idea what the hell that’s supposed to mean, but there it is. The crowd goes wild, though. Mac and Sheila pick up the body, and say they’ll inspect it and get back to them later on, but that’s the last we see of them in the special.

For absolutely idiotic reasons, Helm and Rome suspect the other of doing it, even though both were in the room right next to each other when the guy stumbled in and died. We then get some filmed segments intercut with live-before-a-studio-audience sequences, while Helm and Rome run parallel investigations. Both of them make out with chicks at random, inappropriate intervals, and of course both of them “Walk in” on performances “Already in progress” (Debbie Reynolds dancing, the mom from the Brady Bunch singing, etc), which just slows the whole proceedings to a crawl. We have to sit through three minutes of more or less pointless performances to get to some stilted dialog between our twin protagonists and the ‘stars’ that allegedly contain clues, but mostly are red herrings. (In fact, Sinatra’s entire exchange with Marlow Thomas takes place in a restaurant that repeatedly mentions ‘red herrings’ are the special of the day. We also get Helm and Rome meeting fictional characters from other shows. These are mostly on the same level of embarrassing as the Star Wars episode of The Muppet Show, but the Mary Tyler Moore one is actually kind of a funny running gag, culminating in one or the other smooching around with her, and then her saying “Ohhhh Mister Helm” or “Ohhh Mister Rome” in that on-the-verge-of-tears “Oh, Mister Grant” tone of voice she used to use.

Of course the stars are being bumped off one by one, ten-little-Indians style, and we’re ultimately told that whoever’s killing these people must be the head of BIG-O, though absolutely no reason is given to believe that. Lucy gets a memorable death scene, Bill Cosby gets a really funny one that mostly revolves around him not realizing he’s dead. Leonard Nimoy - currently on the cast of Mission: Impossible when this was filmed - gets a surprisingly dramatic one that doesn’t fit the goofy hijinks at all, but is undeniably moving. Barbara Feldon gets bumped off in mid-torch song by Don Adams. “I’m not the killer or anything, I was just sick of her singing all the time.” Then he gets an arrow in the back, and Adams is dead, too. It’s funnier than it sounds.

Ultimately, the evil Bob Crane konks Helm on the head, and he goes unconscious where we’re treated to an extended dream sequence in which meet up with Elke Sommer and Stella Stevens, who sing “My love ain’t comin’ back” and talk about what a drag it is to have died in Helm’s previous adventures. “Wait a minute, you didn’t die!” he says to Stella. “Yeah, but my career did!” They have a looooooooooooooong dance off, which still somehow manages to be shorter than the Ann Margret dance sequence from Murderer’s row, and then Helm wakes up in the bar. The Bartender is Art Carney doing his Crazy Guggenheim character, but actually, surprisingly, this is probably the comedic highlight of the show, capping off when Martin accuses him of being drunk, and Carney says “I’m not drunk, I took a baseball to the head as a kid.” It’s a cruel, completely inappropriate joke, but I didn’t see it coming, and damn but it’s funny.

Working together, they quickly deduce that the evil Bob Crane is the guy doing the killing, but not the one pulling the strings, they decide that by following him it’ll lead ‘em to “Mister Big.” They sit back and let the rest of the murders happen. That’s right, folks, Rome and Helm just *let* the murder happen to thin the herd. Yikes! There’ a rather confusing “Sorry about Mac” line in here from Rome, which makes me think that there was a death scene for him that was filmed, but didn’t get used. Anyway, the final star sets, and we get a pointless ten-minute chase scene - pointless because it leads from the hotel back to the hotel - with Helm and Rome both driving separate cars, trying to catch Crane, and it’s agonizing to watch. It’s like a dry run for “Cannonball Run II.”

Ultimately, Crane races through the parking lot (Film) through the ‘casino’ set (Video) and up to a hotel room (Film again) where Mister Big, his identity still obscured, strangles him for “Leading them back to me.”

Helm and Rome run in to the lobby just as Mister Big is coming down the elevator. The doors open, and all four of their eyes go wide.

“You!” they say in unison, as in rolls….Bob Hope in a wheelchair! He’s being pushed by Mary Tyler Moore, who we’d thought died earlier alongside Paul Lynde (“Well at least I‘m not dying carrying that purse. Tack-kee, Mary, Tack-kee.”, but evidently didn’t.

“Of course it’s me, who else did you think it was gonna’ be, it’s my special, geez, get a load of these two,” Bob smirks at the audience, “Man, Shields and Yarnell ain’t got nothing’ on you boys - you’re the best mimes I’ve ever seen, say something!” The audience laughs a lot.

“Why’d you do it, Bob” Rome asks.

“Whad’ya’mean ‘why’d I do it?’ Same reason any actor kills people: less competition. I’m the only star left, now, it’s just me. Have you seen the NBC schedule for next year? It’s all me!”

“Why did you work with him?” Helm asks Mary

“Fringe benefits,” she says.

“Ok, enough chitchat, Mary, bump these two off so I can watch you dancing on their graves before it gets dark out.” She does, shoots ‘em both dead on the spot.

“Now gimmie some sugar, baby!” Hope says,

“Ohhhhh, Mister Hope!” she say seductively/excitedly right before she kisses him, and it fades to black.

The lights come back up, all the dead bodies stand, and Hope thanks everyone for being there tonight, and goes on about how wonderful it is that Dino and Frank could fill in for him. The credits roll, and it’s done.

OBSERVATIONS:

Where to begin? This whole thing is a train wreck from the word ‘go.’ The direction - two directors, one for the filmed sequences, and another for the ‘live’ ones - is wildly uneven. While the filmed bits are more-or-less on par with the previous films (Though cheaper), the live stuff is every bit as stagey as you’d expect. In fact, the whole plot (such as it is) comes across as little more than an extended sketch on Martin’s own variety show. The variety bits are mostly terrible, and half the segues between them are incoherent, and the ending is just a total slap in the face to anyone who was dumb enough to buy in to the premise from the outset.

And yet, you know, it kind of works…in places.

Dino and Frankie have an undeniable chemistry, their timing is great, and their playing off of each other is frequently hysterical even when the material is beyond weak (“So a guy walks in to a bar….” “Yeah? I knew a guy walked in to a bar once.” “Yeah? Wha’d he say, Pally?” “Ouch.”), but they’re undeniably fun, and even though this special represents the absolute gasping death of both the Helm and Rome movies, the two of them, at least, end on a high note.

Poor Bob Crane. Despite the silly Russian accent he labors under, he really was a surprisingly credible bad guy, and it really makes me sad that he spent the last decade of his career doing nothing. Also it was a hoot to see the Seaview sets again. That tracking shot through the control room was brilliant.

I was genuinely surprised when Frank started singing parody versions of his own songs, just like Helm. Aside from the stupid theme song in the beginning, however, the music is entirely re-used from the Helm and Rome movies, including one really fun in-joke when Rome is driving in the chase scene in the end, and “The Silencers” theme is playing: Rome turns it down in disgust saying “That’s the worst thing I’ve ever heard,” then we cut to Helm’s car where he’s simultaneously turning it up REALLY LOUD and singing along with it way too emphatically. A cheap gag, but a oh, I can’t do this anymore, I’m sorry, I’m totally lying to you. There was never a Tony Rome Meets Mat Helm TV special, everything I’ve said is a lie, I’ve just been yanking your chain for the last five pages. I have no idea why I did it, other than I’ve been reviewing these movies for a month now, and it’s rotting my brain, rotting my brain, I tells ya! I started to go a little bit crazy during the last two, and something about Contini yammering on about the meticulousness of his plan when it was obvious that he had no plan beyond talking about having a plan caused me to just sort of snap, and I couldn’t take it any more and the next thing you know I’d entered a hallucinatory phantasmagoria where I started working out my own Helm movie, and damn them I’d make it the worst one yet, yeah, see? That’ll teach ‘em, bwa-ha-ha-ha-ha!Then I got a bit deeper into the whole ‘crazy’ thing, and could no longer tell right from wrong, good from bad, true from false, and…well, that’s not true. Actually, I just felt I needed a bit of fun after my Herculean labors (Specifically this was kind of close to Hercules cleaning out the stables, if you know what I mean), and so I cooked this up and tacked it on here, and, ah well, it’s kind of pointless and all, but it had to be done. By me. Now. [Cue insane laugh.] It's like it set a little fire in my brain, and made me want to set a few more fires! But seriously, reviewing these movies has all-but killed me. I can bang out your average movie review in like 45 minutes, but daaaaaaaaam, this series was consistently taking two or three hours, my left hand has been hurting as a result of it all, it's killing me. Killing me! And then I started to go a bit nuts and everything went dizzy, and I was tasting metal...

Ok. Got that out of my system. Sorry. We will return you to your regularly-scheduled Republibot articles tomorrow. Thanks for tuning in. Good night, everybody!

Hey pallies, likes there are lots of Dino wanna-bes out there, but this Dinoemulater seems to be a bit more Dinospecial. From the blogg Eastbourne Herald Gazette comes this Dinonews 'bout a new Dinoshow by a dude tagged Mark Adams (clicks on tagg of this Dinogram to goes there. Mr. Adams new Dinoproduction, "That's Amore" will be in Eastbourne at the Congress Theatre on September 11th.

Did note one error in this report....our Dino was a J&B dude, not Jack Daniels as mentioned here. Wishes I had the bread to fly to England to views this new Dinopresentation. Does love to see more and more pallies emulatin' our Dino and as the tagg of this Dinogram sez, to put our Dino "in the limelight." Certainly will helps to bring more and more pallies to know, love, and honor our Dino. Dinodelightedly, DMP

Show puts Dino in the limelight

Mark Adams

Published Date: 04 September 2009

THE MUSIC and magical stage presence of one of the most charismatic Rat Pack members, Dean Martin, is celebrated in new production That's Amore at the Congress Theatre on September 11 (7.30pm).Starring original West End Rat Pack performer Mark Adams, who has been described as the definitive Dean Martin, he is accompanied by a live on-stage orchestra and the gorgeous Golddiggers.

Mark's performance is so much more than an impersonation of Dean; he presents a faithful depiction of the charismatic showman. From the trademark glass of Jack Daniels through to that incredible voice, the sheer excitement of seeing this legendary performer is recreated in this fully staged show.

That's Amore is a perfect mix of Dean Martin's live cabaret performances and the best of the long running and enormously successful NBC Dean Martin Variety Show.This innovative production is a true variety show interspersed with some very special guests including; Nat King Cole, Shirley Maclaine, Peggy Lee and Petula Clark.

Dean Martin was a singer, actor, comic, raconteur and a pop culture icon. He has three stars on Hollywood boulevard for his singing, his film career and of course the famous NBC television show.

With many hits including the classics: Memories Are Made Of This, That's Amore, Everybody Loves Somebody, Mambo Italiano and Sway his music continues to be loved by new generations and he was awarded a posthumous Grammy award for Lifetime Achievement earlier this year.

When Dino died on Christmas day in 1995 the lights along the famous Las Vegas strip were dimmed in honour of one of the Rat Pack who was the epitome of cool and defined that glamorous Las Vegas scene.

Thursday, September 03, 2009

I think you never fully understand distance until you physically cover it; or to be more exact, you don't really know how far 750 miles is until you drive it.

When I left New Smyrna Beach, FL, at 8:00 this morning I could hardly believe it would take me all day to get to Nashville. I thought, heck, if I make good time I should be able to drive all night and get to Denver in the morning. Now that it's 10:00 PM and I've only just gotten in to Nashville (after roughly 750 miles), I realize that Denver is still a long ways away.

So far, it hasn't been a very exciting trip. Florida was, well, Florida. Georgia was one long road flanked by billboards advertising pecans and adult stores. And Tennessee was very, very pretty but mostly shrouded in darkness when I got there. Tomorrow's highlights *cough* include St. Louis and Kansas City and another 750 miles.

I'm going to keep this short as I have a long day ahead of me, but I wanted to say one thing. I'm staying near Adams, TN, famous for the Bell Witch haunting (read about it here). This particular haunting is one of the most fascinating, studied, and also contested ghost stories in the US. If I had time to go, I would've visited the site of the hauntings. For now, I'm just excited to be near the place.

Tuesday, September 01, 2009

Hey pallies, here's a wonderful review of that wonderful Dinomusical "Bells Are Ringing." We salute Miss Amanda Cooper at her blogg "Noodle In A Haystack" for lifting up the name of our Dino in this way. She sez near the end of this Dinoprose....

"I think that what I like best about Bells Are Ringing (and remember, I like a lot of things about it) is that it has Dean Martin. I had never really paid much attention to him before I saw this movie, and I now regret it. I had seen him in a couple of movies before (westerns mostly) and not really cared. He seemed so sullen most of the time, and I didn't like him a whole lot. Don't worry, though, because I've seen my mistake. I know now how very cool he was, and yes, he was even cool when he was sullen."

Loves as the various Dinoways our Dino uses his charms to bring others to know, love and delight in our great man!!!!! To read this in it's original format, likes just clicks on the tagg of this Dinopost. Dinodelightedly, DMP

Monday, August 31, 2009Bells Are Ringing (1960)

I don't think I'm alone when I say that I'm an admirer of Vincent Minelli's work. True, I have never consciously sought after his movies, but I have enjoyed the ones that I've seen. Just look at the quality of his movies: his direction skills are evident. The particular talents of each of the actors are used appropriately, and (allow me to be vague and general for just a moment) his films are always so colorful (I mean visually). Admittedly, I've never seen any of his black and white films (I'm assuming he did some... am I right?), but the colors in his... color films are always so bright and fun!

The point of the rather ignorant paragraph above is to lead into my review of Bells Are Ringing (1960). I promised this review to you, readers, some time ago, and now it's finally here! Yes, I can see, as you sit there frowning at me, that you're just as excited as I am. Am I right? No? Oh, well... that's too bad because I'm going to keep right on typing.

Ella Peterson (Judy Holliday) operates a switchboard at her cousin Sue's (Jean Stapleton) answering service, Susanswerphone. Now, am I crazy or is that a really cute and clever play on words? If you don't get it, just look at the name for a minute and you'll understand. Continuing with the plot: Ella has what I call a big heart, but she's a (let's be honest) utter menace on a date. Every time her cousin sets her up with a fellow, she gets nervous, shy, and clumsy. At one point, while bewailing this (terrible!) problem of Ella's, Sue cries that she's done everything but catch on fire! Little does she expect that Ella will do just that on her next date.

Ella doesn't mind that she has dating issues, though, because she's in love with Jeffrey Moss, one of Susanswerphone's clients. When talking to him, she uses a thin, wavering voice so that he thinks she is a kindly old woman. As a result, he calls her "Mom" and she becomes his confidant - over the phone, of course. It turns out that his writing partner split up the team, and now he is afraid that he won't be able to be successful without his partner. So instead of working and doing the best he can, Jeff goes out on the town drinking and flirting when he should be home with his typewriter. Ella, naturally, tries from her location at the other end of the phone line, to be a good influence on him.

Enter Inspector Barnes, who believes that Susanswerphone is a cover for a "lonely heart's club." Ella, who is furious, manages to temporarily convince him that he is wrong, but he does leave with a warning: if he gets wind of Ella, or any of the other operators, meeting with the clients or being anything but professional while on the telephone, they will be sent straight to the women's penitentiary. This proves to be no easy task for Ella, who is used to helping Susanswerphone's subscribers (once, she indirectly caused the marriage of two clients who would never have met if it hadn't been for her). Unable to let the subscriber's lives (or careers, as the case may be) be ruined, she begins sneaking out to see them, give them a little life-changing advice (anonymously, of course), and then disappear again.

During one of her escapades, she finally meets Jeff. Not wanting him to know who she really is, she gives him a fake name: Melisande Scott. During the course of a day which they spend together, Ella manages get him to start writing his play, as well as make him fall in love with her: something she hadn't intended to do. You may be thinking, "Yay! They're in love, and now everything is going to be okay!" This isn't necessarily correct. Everything is going to be okay (it's an Arthur Freed musical, after all!), but until then, Ella is upset because she thinks that Jeff is in love with her, Melisande, and not her, Ella. Anyone who really thought it out would see that's she's wrong, though. She was herself around him. So unless he only loves her for her name, he's in love with her, Ella.

While all of this (with some musical numbers interspersed) is going, Ella is being tailed by Inspector Barnes' assistant, who has been taking pictures of her various meetings with the Susanswerphone clients. One of these pictures is of her kissing Jeffrey. Oops! Doesn't look good, does it?

There is also a side story that involves the record company which shares "office space" (the office is in Ella's living room) with Susanswerphone. It turns out that the record label is just a front for some bookies. Unknowingly, Ella manages to put a spoke in the wheels of what was considered to be an unbreakable code. This, naturally, doesn't sit well with the gamblers, who have lost a considerable deal of money due to her well-meaning actions.

For the most part, the story moves along at a pretty good place. However, there are a few scenes that I usually skip. These are scenes where the story takes a vacation and doesn't come back for about five minutes. Once it comes back, though, things are rosy again, and I'm happy to sit and watch Judy Holliday running around and helping people, or even practicing the cha-cha.

The music, with a few exceptions, isn't outstanding. When there is a good song, though, it really is good! Highlights: "Better Than A Dream" is sung by Ella and Jeffrey as a duet just minutes after they meet; Jeffrey sings "Just In Time" (one of my favorite songs, by the way) to Ella, and "The Party's Over" is Ella's lament after she has said goodbye to Jeff for the last time (or so she thinks). Thinking about, again, I've just realized that almost all of the songs are great. These three are just the most memorable. So, please, just forget about the first sentence this paragraph. There are only a few that I don't really care for, such as "The Midas Touch," "Drop That Name," and "It's A Simple Little System."

I think that what I like best about Bells Are Ringing (and remember, I like a lot of things about it) is that it has Dean Martin. I had never really paid much attention to him before I saw this movie, and I now regret it. I had seen him in a couple of movies before (westerns mostly) and not really cared. He seemed so sullen most of the time, and I didn't like him a whole lot. Don't worry, though, because I've seen my mistake. I know now how very cool he was, and yes, he was even cool when he was sullen.

P.S. If you haven't voted on the poll yet, you should now because there are only a few hours left until it closes! - AmandaPosted by Amanda Cooper at 3:16 PM Labels: Arthur Freed, Dean Martin, Judy Holliday, Vincente Minelli